Remembering Blue: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle) this question feed

asked by benzdrives on November 27, 2006 11:49 AM
Emotionally neglected by her mother, abandoned by her father, Mattie O’Rourke spent her childhood starved for the one thing she thought she’d never find: love. When her mother dies and, at twenty-two, she finds herself completely without ties of any kind, Mattie takes a chance at ending her loneliness and moves to a tiny coastal Florida town. At the Suwannee Swifty convenience store, a sea change envelops her. Mattie O’Rourke sees Proteus Nicholas Blue and their fate is sealed after only a few shy, stolen glances.

Nick walks into Mattie’s life having fled his own. A lifelong fisherman from a remote island off the coast, Nick is haunted by the certain knowledge that the sea will be the death of him (as it has been for all the Blue men) and he has resolved to leave it behind. But as Nick and Mattie settle into an intimacy that both comforts and surprises them, Nick feels the inextricable pull of the waxing moon’s tide and the siren’s call of the dolphins that, Blue legend has it, are his brethren.

And so it is that Mattie, who only months before felt that happiness would never find her, returns with Nick to the island home that nurtured him and finds herself embraced by a large and loving family and an alluring and sensual landscape. Life on Lethe is transforming for Mattie. But Nick always knew that the sea would claim him, and all of Mattie’s love cannot prevent the tragedy that is their destiny.

Moving and enchanting, Remembering Blue is a lush story of love, loss, and the mythic power of the ocean, told in an elegant and passionate voice that could only come from Connie May Fowler.


Reviews

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I really loved this book.Ms. Fowler's words always create the pictures in your mind so you can feel like you are right there in the moment.Her descriptions of places and feelings are so wonderful,that you just can savor them as you go along.A unique story;she makes the people come alive to the reader.I had read another book of Ms. Fowler's,Before Women Had Wings,and have held it in my mind and have recommended to many over the years.Was thrilled to see her back,and now I have researhed her other works and have ordered them,too.She is great reading.
reviewed by officefan on November 28, 2006 2:05 AM

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You feel compassion for the main characters right from the start, and are drawn into their world of appreciating nature. Even though the book is technically a "memoire," it reads like any other story. It's just, the story is a woman remembering her husband. Probably what's most interesting is that you start the book knowing the ending -- and while you're reading to find out how it happened, you're reading a beautiful story. The two young people in the couple explore themselves and each other, and live in a snug community.
Charming!
reviewed by porsche on November 29, 2006 8:00 AM

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This book was the first one I tried to read by Fowler. It was also the last. Everytime I see a Fowler book all I can think of is how much I hated Blue. I hated it so much I had to get it out of my house. The author uses too many words to describe a scene. Clearly she doesn't understand that sometimes less is more. If I could give this book 0 stars, I would.
reviewed by daddyadd on November 29, 2006 10:53 AM

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As a few reviewers have noted, the book gains momentum with each chapter. Did Fowler plan that? or was it more a matter of the flow of the story grabbing her at about page 100? One wonders.

Stay with this book. It is a gem of a story, and it will prompt you to remember that we are meant to live passionately; we are meant to surrender to ourselves and our yearnings; and that we are meant to care about and for others.

The book gives us an experience that teems with life -- of the sea, of the island, of the forgotten coast along the Big Bend (Carrabelle, Eastpoint, Appalachicola), where most still struggle to make ends meet by fishing for oysters and shrimp.

You will fall in love with all of the characters, and you will fall in love with the setting. This is fine writing and even finer storytelling. Fowler is a treat.

reviewed by ivan on November 29, 2006 5:03 PM

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"Remembering Blue" is a well-written book with a good story, but the only problem is that it was difficult for me to get in to. I thought about stopping, but luckily I didn't. The book becomes much better towards the middle and all the way up until the end. For anyone who becomes bored, don't stop reading: the second half of the book makes the read very worthwhile.
reviewed by bugger on November 29, 2006 7:33 PM

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